Tim Cook Decides Against Opening Apple Retail Stores On Thanksgiving

We picked up on a rumor about a week ago that Apple might open several of its retail stores on Thanksgiving. Apparently the company’s retail marketing directors were pushing for this decision to capture the Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping fever, joining retailers like Macy’s, Sears, Kmart, WalMart and a few others who will be opening up stores on the holiday. Apple was reportedly going to open several stores in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego and more. This would mean that employees would have to be away from home and their families on Thanksgiving, and other retailers have already been criticized for this very reason. Apple wouldn’t have to worry about criticism though, given that CEO Tim Cook has axed all plans to open several stores on Thanksgiving.

Cook reportedly made this decision on the premise that it is important to let retail employees be with their families on Thanksgiving, a premise that an overwhelming majority will agree with. Apple retail store employees who would have been on shifts during the holiday were reportedly going to receive alternate time off, but Cook didn’t go with that plan. By going down this road, Apple joins a list of retailers like Nordstrom and Costco who have all chosen to remain closed through Thanksgiving.